Asia Stocks Drop on U.S. Fed Policy Outlook, Middle-East Tension

Asian equities fell for the first time in four days amid caution over the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy outlook and tensions in the Middle East.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.4 percent to 173.84 as of 4:19 p.m. in Hong Kong. A gauge of industrial stocks lead the decline, while energy companies extended gains with rising crude oil. The S&P 500 Index retreated overnight amid provocative comments by President Donald Trump about Russia and his warning of preparations to attack Syria.

Fed officials leaned toward a slightly faster pace of tightening at their March meeting as their growth outlook and confidence in hitting their inflation target strengthened, minutes showed.

RELATED NEWS

Hong Kong stocks finished Friday with a flourish as investors were cheered by easing tensions in the China-US trade row while also betting on another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next week...

U.S. stocks were mostlly higher as the rotation from growth to value shares carried on. Treasury yields climbed and the dollar slipped.
Shares globally are headed for a third weekly gain thanks to ea...

European stocks edged higher on Friday afternoon after the European Central Bank (ECB) delivered an aggressive stimulus package in a bid to reinvigorate the ailing euro zone economy.
The pan-European...